This May, a new month-long series of wine-related events called “Traverse City Uncorked” will be held throughout the Traverse City area. The event is a collaboration between Traverse City Tourism, the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail and the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula. It will showcase Traverse City’s burgeoning wine and cuisine scene while also featuring specials at participating venues throughout the region.

These interviews are part of a series that highlights new hires within the industry. Have you recently started a new role or do you know someone who has? Submit your ideas to brittany.trevick@tigeroak.com.

Susie Scott was recently hired to be the restaurant manager of the Carillon in Austin, Texas.

1. What are you looking forward to in your new role as the restaurant manager of The Carillon?

Temperatures in Palm Springs and other desert cities are breaking records this summer, topping out at more than 120 degrees. But Chad Gardner, one of the area’s top event planners and caterers, isn’t breaking a sweat. His companies Chad Gardner Presents, and Dash and a Handful produce corporate events and charity galas for a long list of clients, including Pandora, Calvin Klein, Toyota, Nike, Twitter, VH-1, the Human Rights Campaign and the Annenberg Center at Sunnylands.

The auction, which will take place on Dec. 9 from 5–8:30 p.m. at the Touchdown Club at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, raises money for the organization to help further education and give industry professionals a way to connect.

The Civil War may be the first thing that comes to one’s mind when thinking of Gettysburg, but a close second should be the food offerings available to the nearly 3.7 million visitors and thousands of meeting and conference attendees each year.

All planners know the importance of looking ahead—the earlier the details fall into place, the less stress one has to deal with as the event nears.

A smattering of event venues have started holding receptions decorated for holiday parties to give planners an idea of what a holiday event would look like there and to have soirees booked far in advance. We know Christmas in July sounds crazy, but it really is a planner’s dream. With all the heat and sunshine, winter feels light-years away.